hand

[[t]hænd[/t]]

n.

1) anat. zool. the terminal, prehensile part of the arm in humans and higher primates, consisting of the wrist, metacarpals, fingers, and thumb

2) anat. zool. the corresponding part of the forelimb in any four-legged vertebrate

3) zool. a terminal prehensile part, as the chela of a crustacean, or, in falconry, the foot of a falcon

4) something resembling a hand in shape or function:

the hands of a clock[/ex]

5) pri

index 5)

6) cv a person employed in manual labor or for general duty:

a ranch hand[/ex]

7) a person with great skill in or knowledge of something, esp. through long experience:

an old hand at fund-raising[/ex]

8) a person with reference to an ability or skill:

a poor hand at running a business[/ex]

9) skill; workmanship; characteristic touch:

The painting shows a master's hand[/ex]

10) Often, hands. possession or power; control, custody, or care:

My fate is in your hands[/ex]

11) a position, esp. one of control, used for bargaining, negotiating, etc

12) means; agency; instrumentality:

death by his own hand[/ex]

13) assistance; aid:

Give me a hand with this ladder[/ex]

14) side; direction:

no traffic on either hand of the road[/ex]

15) style of handwriting; penmanship

16) a person's signature:

to set one's hand to a document[/ex]

17) a round or outburst of applause for a performer

18) a promise or pledge, esp. in marriage

19) wam a linear measure equal to 4 inches (10.2 centimeters), used esp. in determining the height of horses

20) gam Cards.

a) the cards dealt to or held by each player at one time

b) the person holding the cards

c) a single part of a game, in which all the cards dealt at one time are played

21) a bunch, cluster, or bundle of leaves, fruit, or the like

22) mac the deviation of a thread or tooth from the axial direction of a screw or gear, as seen from one end looking away toward the other

23) tex the properties of a fabric that can be sensed by touching it, as resilience and smoothness

24) to deliver or pass with or as if with the hand

25) to help, assist, guide, etc., with the hand

26) to give or provide with:

That handed me a laugh[/ex]

27) phv hand down

a) to deliver (the decision of a court)

b) to transmit, esp. to a succeeding generation

28) phv hand in, to submit; present for acceptance

29) phv+spo hand off, Football. to hand the ball to a member of one's team in the course of a play

30) phv hand on, to transmit; pass on to a successor, posterity, etc

31) phv hand out, to give or distribute; pass out

32) phv hand over

to deliver to another; surrender control of

33) of, belonging to, using, or used by the hand

34) made by hand

35) carried in or worn on the hand

36) operated by hand; manual

•

- at hand at the hand(s) of by hand change hands eat out of someone's hand force someone's hand from hand to mouth hand and foot hand in hand in hand hand over fist hands down hand to hand have a hand in in hand join hands keep one's hand in lay hands on on all hands on hand out of hand show one's hand sit on one's hands the back of one's to hand try one's hand at turn wash one's hands of with a heavy hand

Etymology: bef. 900; ME, OE, c. OS hand, OHG hant, ON hǫnd, Go handus